Hello. I am new to this BB but not new to Homeopathy. I have been trying to treat our two German Shepherds for severe itches since August, and found out late November that we have ringworm. Years ago we treated it successfully in the family mostly using Sepia, but all these months I have been batting zero. It has gotten so bad I have even resorted in my desperation to Fulvicin and Iodine. I know perfectly well that if I find the Simillimum, all will be well, but I am failing, so far. I would appreciate some fresh "eyes".

The two dogs are mother and son. They are 9 and 7 years old. I do not cook their food but give them Eagle Rock Senior kibble and raw hamburger. The son has had summer itches in the past which have always gone away when snow is on the ground. Not this year! Chewie is a very meek sensitive guy who prefers to be outside, presents as big and scary, but is a mama-dominated softie. He can be a bit aloof. He prefers not to be fussed over. He is worse at night, itches insanely and interminably. He is thirsty for small amounts of water. He is very attached to mama. His skin is weepy in some places, he has lost hair, has lick granulomas that won't heal, and the skin is getting thick from all the itching. He can sleep in the early evening, but about 1-2AM is restless and itches without rest, wanting to be out in the (very) cold. We live at 6500FT in dry mountain weather.

Togee, his mom, is not as bad, has no lick granulomas, and has not lost as much hair. But she nitches with her teeth, mostly on her legs, but is not as restless and does not need to be outside in the cold as much. She was just spayed (Sept), and is showing some signs of lameness after excercise, which is new. At her age, (9) I would say she has been in perfect health up until this summer.

Here are the remedies I have tried, not necessarily in this order, and over the last 4 months. As you can see, I have started to get a bit frantic in my 'practice'.
Rhus tox 200C - gave this ample opportunity to do its thing -
Ars alb 200C - same (They both seemed like no brainers)
Puls 200C - For sure this should work. Nope. Only tried one or two doses.
Sulphur 1M - another no brainer. No results, either.
Sepia 1M - aloofness must be the key. No results.
Psorinum 1M - one dose, waited 2 weeks. Nada.
Baccilinum 200C - gave this the college try for a couple weeks. Zip.
Floranone ointment with Cardiospermum - seemed to help a bit but very hard to apply topically
Currently trying Chrysarobinum, 3x daily for 5 days, 6C. No relief so far after 4 days.

Still on my list, Calc, Tell, Thuj, Kali ars. They both have been getting tea tree oil shampoo baths, with Betadine soaks, also dilute chlorine soaks too, as we get more and more desperate. I have been using Calendula on the lick granulomas and any particulary weepy spots. The ringworm on Chewie covers pretty much all of him from the shoulders down, worse in spots. He is a little funky smelling, too.

I was checking out the Neem Oil scene. But I'd MUCH RATHER treat homeopathically. But I am obviously in over my head, or, is it always hardest to treat those nearest and dearest??!!

I would greatly appreciate any insights.
Thanks. A-T

Hi,

I'd suggest Ars Iod 30 daily for Chewie. He may need Puls or something like that later.

But you'll have to give me a better description of mom, just like you did of Chewie.

All the best,
doctorleela

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Thanks for the reply. Togee, the mom, is alpha in our canine family, rarely wildly demonstrative like some German Shepherds, but mellow and quietly affectionate. Sometimes she can snap at the cats and show them her dominance too. Both dogs love to play and are bombproof around kids. Togee does not like other dogs in her territory, but is gentle towards puppies and was a wonderful mother. She does not wolf down her food the way Chewie does, but is much more feminine and dainty. Both dogs have had minimal vaccinations, and get no flea or heartworm drugs; sometimes I worm them conventionally and sometimes with Granatum. Neither dog particularly likes to swim or be in water for other than a quick dunk. Not a lot to go on.

HI Well, Togee sounds like Nat Mur. So 3 doses of 30 at bedtime for 3 nights should be enough. (If the response is inadequate, you may try 200 next).

Keep us posted.

Warm regards,
doctorleela

[ 31 December 2001: Message edited by: doctorleela ]</p>

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We may be seeing a response from the Chrysarobinum, so I am going to stick with that for a bit. I do not know this remedy - should I stick with the 6C or order a higher potency? How long can I give it? They were itching a lot less yesterday, but more this morning before I gave them their dose. Better after. Thanks so much.

HI,

Chrysarobinum is an acute specific remedy for Ringworm and will certainly reduce the intensity, but will not completely clear up the problem acc to me. BUt worth waiting while there is a response. If the improvement stops you can start going up slowly and progressively. So that would be 6C once daily then bd then 9C once daily then bd etc...

Ars Iod has also been prescribed as an acute, but one never knows if it will turn out to be Chewies constitutional. NAt Mur in my opinion will be constitutional for Togee.

Regards,
doctorleela

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Doctor Leela - Togee has had her Nat Mur and we are in wait and see mode...no startling results so far. We are waiting for the Ars iod to come, so in the meantime, are trying Kali ars, as just as you suspected, the Chrys stopped palliating. Thanks for your reminder to look beyond the list of ringworm remedies and focus more on finding their similimi. Perhaps I was doing a better job of selecting back when I didn't know it was ringworm. Chewie is losing whole new areas of fur, and the new acute areas of ringworm are weepy, red and nasty. What a mess - our poor pooches.

HI AT,

You could repeat the NAt MUr for Togee if necessary, at least 3 doses.

Hope the Ars Iod helps chewie. Poor chap. Have you tried a local application for the bad areas? Like Potassium permanganate solution to wash them out?

Regards,
doctorleela

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Thanks both of you for great suggestions. Yes, homeopathic vets in Idaho are just about as scarce as human homeopaths, but there is promise. A new practitioner, trained by Messner, has just moved here, and I was thinking of asking him to help. Also, our local vet has gotten bitten by the homeo bug, and is taking a course this spring with Pitcairne. Who would have thought even 10 years ago that your run of the mill country vet would take the leap? I am so glad, even if I have to wait years for him to come up to speed!
I spent the afternoon hitting the books yet again, and am as baffled as ever. No improvement from a couple doses of Kali Ars, and Togee really has not responded to one dose of Nat mur 1M (it was all I had). I fear I have mucked the case up terribly, yet, with no results to speak of and really no changes except for the steady creep of the crud, maybe not.
I got my Ars iod but have not given it yet, waiting for I know not what.
Treating topically has been frustrating because the ringworm is all over, in some places in very thick winter fur. I think I have done a fantastic job, with calendula or betadine or even Urt urens tincture, and then I see how much I have missed. And Chewie esp sees me with a cotton ball and high-tails it to hide. He hates me to doctor him, hates fussing, and really shrinks from gentle swabbing - which made me wonder about Tell. I read today how 2 dogs' ringworm was cured with a single dose of Tell 1M, (I only have 200C) AND I read the symptom "fears that touch will hurt" and all the back and hip stuff. Chewie has had a sensitive back since he was a pup. I also noticed that with so much fur loss and redness and swelling on his butt, he favors his hindend a bit and almost staggers. He has never had hip problems. He is such a baby, he cries if you step even near his tail, just in case you might catch a hair or two. As I said, he is a very sensitive fellow, some might even say, a wuss.
Yet today both dogs were raring to go out on a ski and will never say no to a game of plastic bottle hockey.
Funny thing is, Chewie is a very large Czech bred dog, weighing 130#. Just goes to show what happens when your mom is domineering.
I took the case as best I could using my "Gift of Homeopathy" software (just Kent) and Sulph headed the list handily. The list is dauntingly long.
I would appreciate any hits you might have about Tell. Thanks so much, from me and T&C, too.

Dear AT,

The only thing to do here is to investigate the case thoroughly. No point keeoing on trying. We'll have to really look for an insight on this problem. I'm really sorry for you and T&C.

I'll mail you a questionnaire. ITs actually for kids, but you could modify the questions for T&C and answer them Once I have all the info, I may do a better job.

Warm regards,
doctorleela

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